We’re all the main characters in our stories throughout the school year. But what about when summer comes around? Once the bell rings on the last day and we all rush to the bus one last time, what’s next? A picture-perfect summer can be spontaneous beach trips, trips to cafés, and tropical vacations to places you’ve never seen before. But the truth is that we don’t need to do any of that to have a Belly Conklin summer at Cousins Beach- we can start right here.

What has a treble clef and is the very first step to being the protagonist of a very romanticized summer? Music. Music can transport you virtually anywhere from the comfort of your own home, with bonus points if you grab your headphones and head outside for a walk. Even though there’s already dozens of amazing summer playlists out there on Spotify, Apple Music, and even YouTube, there’s even more tunes coming out for the summer of 2026. To start, we have Olivia Rodrigo’s highly anticipated album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. This, her third studio album, has fans on the edge of their seats because of how unique it is compared to her previous albums, Sour and Guts. Based on the blue and pink aesthetic of the album cover, Rodrigo’s songs seem bound to take over the summer once they’re dropped on the release date, June 12th. We also have albums that have already been released for those of us hoping to get right into the musical season of summer! We have Conan Gray’s fourth studio album Wishbone, which has tracks that are upbeat as well as some that are more instrumental to appeal to every kind of main character. Last but not least for our musical department, Ariana Grande has also announced her eighth studio album, Petal, which is scheduled to release on July 31st. Based on reports, this album is said to be an upbeat sister to her previous album, Eternal Sunshine. With these three artists, there’s sure to be a song that makes you feel like Rory Gilmore’s summer themed twin.

Now that we’ve got our headphones, let’s talk about some activities. Even though we don’t have Camp Half-Blood or Hogwarts to attend, there’s still a multitude of things you can do to feel like a main character. For one thing, taking up a new hobby can be an excellent way to stay both engaged and entertained over the summer. Some examples include learning a new instrument or even practicing a sport you’ve always wanted to try. Summer is the ideal time to try something new, since we don’t always have time during the school year. That being said, if you are completely burnt out and want to take a break, there’s also many ways to embrace the art of doing nothing. Of course, “Nothing” doesn’t have to mean bed rotting. You can read a new book or start a new series to get lost in a whole world without ever having to leave yours, and you can even go watch a movie with your friends if you’re not into reading. Some books that are perfect for the summer include the Once Upon a Broken Heart series by Stephanie Garber, which is the perfect world to get lost in for the summer, and the stand-alone book Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch, which follows Lina on her trip to Italy for the summer. As for movies and TV shows, we obviously have the classic, The Summer I Turned Pretty. But if you want to try something a little different, no rule says you have to watch something summer-themed over the summer. You know that TV show you put off in the fall because you were too busy? Now’s the perfect time to watch it. One honorable mention is season 5 of Stranger Things, which might just take you to the Upside Down.

This summer doesn’t have to take place in a tropical getaway or with a bunch of fancy activities to be memorable. There are many different things you can do to feel like the star in a TV show or the protagonist in a New York Times Bestselling series, and it all depends on your own personal preferences. If you want to go out and touch grass (or maybe sand, if we really want to get into the aesthetic), go for it. But if you want to take a break this summer, that’s fine too! The chapters are already there; all that’s left is to turn the page.